The James Striar School of General Jewish Studies (JSS) is a comprehensive program for students seeking to improve and expand their skills and knowledge of Jewish studies on either the beginning or intermediate level. JSS has the only Jewish studies program for college-age students in the country designed to be taken simultaneously with a regular college program on the same campus. The program teaches the fundamentals of Jewish scholarship and heritage through a unique curriculum comprising courses in Hebrew language, Bible, Jewish history, Talmud, and Jewish philosophy, laws and customs.

The school was established in 1956 as the Jewish Studies Program and renamed in 1965 to honor the generosity of the Striar family in memory of their father, James Striar. Its location at the Wilf Campus affords stimulating interaction with the University’s other undergraduate schools as well as graduate schools and affiliates, and provides easy access to the major resources of the institution.

Students who complete the requirements receive the Associate in Arts degree. In addition to formal classes, the school fosters close relationships between teachers and students through continuing individual guidance.


Admission
Every applicant must be interviewed by the dean of the school. This provides an opportunity to evaluate the applicant’s background in Jewish studies and to discuss the student’s program and course of study. Students wishing to enter the program must demonstrate an ability to read vocalized Hebrew text and to write the Hebrew alphabet.

Student Advisement
Student advisement plays an important role in the James Striar course of study, and each student is required to meet with a faculty advisor prior to registration. In addition, advisors are available on an ongoing basis, and senior rabbinic students offer one-on-one tutoring throughout the term.

Most noteworthy is JSS’s excellent reputation as a school in which concern for the individual is paramount. In addition to the formal academic structure, the faculty provides a great deal of individual attention to the personal growth of each student. For many, life long relationships between rebbe and talmid are established.

Required Courses

Bible – six semesters
Hebrew language – four semesters: 1101, 1102, 1203, 1204
Jewish history – two courses from 1200, 1300, 1400
Judaic studies – four semesters
Talmud – four semesters
Students must register for at least three courses with a minimum of 12 credit hours within the program each semester. The cumulative index of these courses will transfer as 4 HES credits in the student’s college record.


CURRICULUM

ASSOCIATE IN ARTS

Degree Requirements

A. Course and credit requirement: (Completion of the courses required listed previously for all students, and three additional elective courses.
B. Residence requirement: Students must complete at least six semesters in residence at James Striar School taking a full program each semester.
C. Grade requirement: Students must achieve an average of 2.0 or better in all Jewish studies courses.
D. Administrative requirements: The prior or simultaneous receipt of a BA or BS degree from Yeshiva College or Sy Syms School. Each student must file an Application for Degree during the registration period of the semester in which he completes all requirements.

SCHOOL REGULATIONS

Attendance
Students are expected to attend all their scheduled class sessions and to be present promptly at the beginning of the hour, unless prevented from doing so by illness or other compelling cause. A record of each student’s class attendance is kept by the instructor.

A student’s attendance record may be taken into account when determining his status in the university. Continued unexcused absences will result in the student being dropped from the course with a grade of G, which may lead to probation or academic dismissal from the college.

Permission to register late in a course does not in itself excuse the student’s absence from classes already held.